Dust mop



June 23, 1925. 1,542,996

f H. H. ERICKSON DUST MOP Filed Jan. 9. 1925 Patented June 23, 1925.

UNITED STATES HERBERT H. ERICKSON` OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WEIL-RANSOM COM-v PATENT OFFICE.

- PANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION F ILLINOIS.

DUST Mor.

Application led January i of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Dust Mops, of which the following is a specification.

This 'inventlon relates to dustv mops and more particularly to a method and means for connecting the ends of the wire frame of the mop head and providing a swivel bearing to which the handleof the mop is attached. i

The object of the present 4invention is to provide an improvement in the construction of a. mop, such as disclosed in a previous application filed by me on July 25, 1924, and bearing Serial No. 728,087.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of a mop embodying the invention. Y

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail view in horizontal section taken on line 2, 2 of Figure 1, transversely through the bearing.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view of the bearing in longitudinal section, and

Figure 4.- is a view in elevation of the bearing and one of the rubber discs removed from the frame.

The mop herein disclosed is typical of a class of mops adapted for hardwood floors and for general dusting and clean'inor 'purposes, consisting of a head A of so material attached to a handle B by means of ay suitable fitting C, permitting the head to swing or pivot on the handle. lo The mop head preferably consists of a framel of a length of twisted wire, with a multitude of strands of yarn secured between the wires'and forming a mass of cleaning material. The frame is bent into the form of an elongated rectangular frame with the ends brought together between the ends of the mop head.

In the present construction, the free ends of the wire are joined by a cylindrical body 30 of metal 2, preferably solder. The eomection is easily made by 'the use of solder, since a mold can be used for the purpose, and forms a strong and lasting joint. In addition to forming the joint it also provides a bearing for the handle fitting C,

9, 1925. serial No. 1,340.

being about twice the diameter of the twisted wires and hence affording ample bearing surface. l

In my previous disclosure, the bearing 2 was provided with anges at its ends, which acted to prevent relative endwise movement between the handle fitting. This construction is objectionable in some respects for the reason that after the mop has been used for a time the form becomes compressed, thus offering'less protection against Contact of the metal parts striking or scraping along the floor or surface being cleaned, in the ordinary manipulation of the mop. The anges being east are fre- (uently rough, with the result that the surace is likely to be scratched or marred.

This objectional feature has been overcome by eliminating the flanges entirely and instead the ends of the bearing 2 are beveled as in '3, 3. The handle tting C is stamped from sheet metal to form a sleeve portion 4, which practically surrounds the bearing 2, and two end straps, 5, which extend radially from the sleeve, and are bent in semi-circular shape, forming a socket-like cavity for the end of the handle B which is held securely in place by a bolt 6 passing through the straps and handle and a wing unit 7, mounted at the end thereof.

The ends of the sleeve portion 4 of the handle fitting are bent or upset inwardly to give them the same degree of taper as the beveled ends of the bearing 2, so that when the handle fitting is applied, these parts are free to turn on each other, but the sleeve is held from endwise movement on the bearing. Thus, the bearing is entirely enclosed within the sleeve, and with the attendant advantage that no metal extends outwardly from the sleeve which can scratch or mar the floor of objectsv struck. Moreover, a natural reduction in the amount of metal used, is accomplished, which decreases the weight of the mop and in some degree the cost of material.

As an added feature, although not a wholly necessary one, is the use of circular rubber dises 8, 8, which may be applied to the frame at either end of the bearing. These discs are slightly greater in diameter than the sleeve, so as to receive and cushion the contact with the fioor. These discs have holes at their centers and are threaded onto the ends ofthe twisted wire, before the bearing is applied.

Obviousy these discs 8 might serve to preventendwise movement of the sleeve on its bearing, in the absence of the tapering and beveling the ends of these parts. Although the use of the discs for this purpose is possible, it is not altogether practical since in time they would be likely to spread apart by Working along the wire frame, or else to become Worn or torn off after long usage, and therefore, it is preferred to adhere to the more permanent form of bearing construction Whether the rubber discs are used or not. I claim as my invention:

1. A dust mop comprising a head consisting of a rectangular frame, a cylindric v bearing member mounted on said frame and having its ends beveled, and a handle connecting member comprising a sleeve surrounding said bearing member and having tapered ends engaging the beveled ends of said bearing member.

2. A dust mop, comprising a Wire frame, a metal bearing member mounted on said frame, a handle connecting member comprising a sleeve engaging said bearing member, and a rubber disc mounted on said frame at either end of said bearing member, and projecting radially therebeyond. l Signed at Chicago, this 31st day of Dec., 9

HERBERT H. ERICKSON. 

